How You Can Help

Hold a Supply Drive

One way you can help animals at the MSPCA is through donation supply drives. It takes hundreds of pounds of food and supplies to feed and care for the many animals the MSPCA takes in each year. We are always in need of the items from our wish list, as well as monetary donations to help us purchase equipment and supplies to keep the animals warm, fed, and healthy. 1. Set a time frame in which to collect donations, for example give it a week or a month. 2. Decorate posters and collection boxes to be displayed at your school, church, or community center. Be sure to get permission to put the collection boxes in the places you choose. 3. Distribute copies of the MSPCA’s wish list to people telling them where they can drop off their items and why the drive is important. For an up to date wishlist visit www.mspca.org/wishlist.4. Wait for the items to start rolling in! 5. Be sure to nicely remind people about your drive throughout the time frame. When your drive is over, drop everything off at the Boston MSPCA. Make sure to check www.mspca.org/boston for hours and directions. We can take a picture of you when you drop off all that you have collected for the animals and post it on our website!

Host a Lemonade Stand

We have an awesome stand ready for you to use! You can set it up near our Adoption Center entrance. Just bring their own cups and lemonade (and maybe even baked goods!). You will be able to see the animals up for adoption and see how things work at the shelter at the same time. It's a fun way to raise money for the animals! We also have a cider stand and a hot chocolate stand for different seasons! Visit www.mspca.org/bostonlemonade to learn more.

Go on an Adoption Quest

Choose a shelter cat or dog and help them get adopted by telling your friends and family about them. Share their picture on Facebook, put out flyers around your local markets and libraries – get creative! When your animal gets adopted we will send you a picture of the animal with their new adopter! Just be sure to email bostonvolunteer@mspca.org to let us know about your efforts! If you know someone who needs advice on adopting a pet or information on pet care, encourage them to visit our website and our adoption center - www.mspca.org/boston. They can also view pictures of our animals up for adoption online!

Be an Animal Advocate!

Join the MSPCA’s Animal Action Team and keep up to date on current happenings at the Massachusetts State House and around the state on animal issues. Find out your state Senator and Representative and contact them on important animal protection legislation. Hearing from young constituents means a lot to elected officials and your call can change their minds and their votes! A monthly Animal Action Team e-newsletter will be sent to you on campaigns and legislative happenings as well as e-alerts as action develops around important pieces of legislation. Click here to join the Animal Action Team.

Post Flyers on Adoption Events

We always need help posting flyers for our adoption events and spay/neuter promotions in towns and cities around the Boston area. There are many animals in underserved areas that need our help, and you can take part in getting the word out! Volunteer groups can pick up a packet of flyers and go to town! Email bostonvolunteer@mspca.org and we can send you some flyers!

Dress up in a Dog or Cat Costume at our Special Events

Throughout the year we host special fundraising events where we ask folks to dress up in our mascot costumes (see attached picture) and raise donations outside our adoption center – you must be accompanied by an adult to participate – email bostonvolunteer@mspca.org to sign up to join our mascot list receive emails as events are scheduled.

Create a Cat Toy

Want to make some cats really happy? This nifty, thrifty toy is a fun classroom project. Not only is this imitation butterfly easy to put together, the materials are readily available. You can give the entire batch directly to your shelter or have a sale and donate the proceeds.

Here’s What You’ll Need to Create Each Toy:

1 yard of heavy flexible stainless wire (you can find it in a hardware store)

Wooden chopstick or dowel

Masking tape

2 to 3 inch long ribbon, cloth or twine

Here’s What You Do:

1. Securely wrap one end of the wire around the chopstick or dowel. Then cover the wire with masking tape. This will become the toy’s handle. 2. Tie the ribbon or twine onto the other end of the wire.3. Slowly twirl the handle between your fingers. Sort of looks alive, doesn’t it? Because it mimics the motion of a cat’s prey, a kitty will pounce and stalk and sail through the air to “capture” it. Courtesy of the APSCA’s AnimalLand Website http://www.animaland.org/

Dog Biscuit Bake Sale

Selling homemade dog cookies is a yummy way to help the animals. After baking, package the cookies in bags with colorful ribbon to sell them to your neighbors or at local dog parks. The MSPCA can provide informational brochures to give out along with the cookies, so people can learn about the MSPCA at the same time. Be creative with the packaging or give the cookies a holiday theme (like Valentine's Day) to make them more fun and festive.Find a healthy dog cookie recipe on the Internet, at the library or use the following: